These are not the artists on the list of art investors or brokers. Yet their works connect rural Pennsylvania with national art scenes, often through a reference to their indebted influence from European modernism, American regionalism or New York school. It shows that while public art may not be democratic, individuals can blossom regardless their root and locale.
An Old Label from Wunderly Gallery Except for Chinese ink-wash paintings, whose ownership is genuinely documented through personal seals over hundreds of years, for the majority of the artworks available in the market, tracing the previous owner is harder than deciphering a papyrus document written in hieroglyph. However, sometimes we are blessed with old labels from prominent galleries. … Continue reading At Concept Art Gallery — The Passage of Time Evident on Gallery Labels
In 1868 Boston writer James Parton called Pittsburgh "hell with the lid off." The "black" town, however, has never been short of talented artists. For some, the smoke and dirt pushed them to find pastoral retreat nearby; for others like Christian Walter, "no other place in the world has the wealth of material that can … Continue reading Hell With The Lid Off — Paintings At Concept Art Gallery Reveals Real Beauty of Western Pennsylvania
It would be interesting to see whether the rising status of Scalp Level, especially its leader George Hetzel can hold their values well in the current art market. On Feb 6-8, 2009, Dargate Auction is going to offer a small study of Forest Interior which exemplifies Hetzel's style and skill. According to the catalog, the … Continue reading George Hetzel On The Market
Pittsburgh certainly has more than the personalities it needs to bring its history to life. We've touched the surface by visiting two homes to which countless hours have been devoted painting, sanding, restoring, rebuilding and uncovering. Each house has its own architectural dignity, and yet into that house was also built some of the personalities of those who at some point left their mark on its walls. [...]
Westmoreland Museum of American Art (WMOAA) dedicates another exhibition "Scenic Views: Painters of the Scalp Level School Revisited" to the western Pennsylvania region starting from Nov 9 to Feb, 1 next year (see the Nov 2, 2008, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article "Profile rises for landscapes from Scalp Level School" by Mary Thomas about detailed information of … Continue reading New Exhibition —- Scenic Views: Painters of the Scalp Level School Revisited
Concept Art Gallery has two paintings by Western Pennsylvania artist George Hetzel in an upcoming auction. The first, depicts a wooded scene with some less common features for a Hetzel work including a fence and a bright red tree. Rather than a summer scene in the deep woods, this fall scene clearly shows signs of … Continue reading Hetzel Paintings to be offered by Concept
This weekend saw two local events focusing on the art and antique community in Pittsburgh. In Wilkinsburg, an auction at Dargate saw the sell of many American and Continental European items including several pieces of Pittsburgh Glass. Among them, six Bakewell Glass Flutes brought $1,000 and a pair of Celery Vases brought $850.Items relating to … Continue reading Opportunities to Purchase Pittsburgh Glass, Paintings this Weekend
A hansome pair of Joseph Ryan Woodwell paintings sold at auction this weekend. Wiederseim auction house had estimated the paintings would fetch between $200 and $300, far short of the $2400 they ended up bringing. The last Woodwell painting I know of to come up at auction was in October of '06. That painting, somewhat … Continue reading Joseph Ryan Woodwell at Auction
Winston Churchill once said “the farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” This quote as I learned of it came from a book about the Luminist painter Fitz H. Lane, a transcendental-influenced Unitarian. The author, James A. Craig had something more to say on the way time relates to … Continue reading Transcendental Travels
Urban Art & Antiques 